MILITARY PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1938, Page 7

MILITARY PLANES

BRITISH MISSION TO U.S.A. & CANADA ONLY EXPLORATORY INQUIRIES BEING MADE MAXIMUM PRODUCTION IN UNITED KINGDOM (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 26. Lord Winterton, replying in the House of Commons to Mr F. Montague (Labour), who asked whether orders for military aeroplanes were to be placed with firms in Canada and the United States, said the party of experts now visiting the United States and Canada was concerned solely with exploratory inquiries. The party would investigate whether types of aircraft which might be suitable for certain Royal Air Force purposes were available for early delivery. They would also examine the capacity and potentialities for the production of aircraft in Canada.

The investigations to be conducted by this mission are part of the review referred to by Mr Chamberlain on March 14 and are supplementary to the arrangements for production in this country. “As soon as the Government decided that circumstances had made it necessary to accelerate and extend the programme for air expansion a comprehensive review was made on the maximum production that would be possible in this country with the additional labour by all firms capable of producing types of aircraft suitable for use in the Royal Air Force. Accelerating and further expansion imply as to requirements, first increased - output of appropriate types now in production, and secondly the introduction at the earliest possible date of the latest improved types which are on order.

“It is the intention and determination of the Government that all British firms suitable for the production of aircraft to the requirements of the expanded programme shall be in a position to give the maximum output possible during the next two years. Bulk orders for production on a large scale have been placed and further orders necessary to secure the maximum accelerated output will be given without delay. “The scale on which the factories have been planned and orders have been given make it possible to secure greatly increased production if additional labour is available.”

On the motion for the adjournment after the Budget resolutions had been passed, Mr G. Le M. Mander (Liberal) said he wished to call attention to the dispatch to the United States of the Air Ministry mission, about which he said there had been a great deal of misgiving, doubt and mystification, but after he had been speaking for a few minutes the House was counted out.